It’s no secret that Prince Harry’s relationship with his family has been on shaky ground for years. But now, the distance between father and son seems greater than ever — and according to some royal watchers, even simple communication may be off the table.
During this year’s Trooping the Colour parade in London, King Charles was spotted exchanging words with Queen Camilla in their carriage. While the conversation itself wasn’t recorded, a professional lip reader claims to have caught the monarch making a pointed remark about his youngest son: “We will tackle it sooner or later. It’s all very messy, and I will talk to Harry. That’ll be fun.”
If true, the comment echoes a broader reality that insiders and commentators have suggested for months — that Charles is exasperated with Harry’s continued public criticism and legal battles, particularly around personal security in the UK.
The trust is gone
Since stepping away from royal duties in 2020, Harry has spoken openly about the difficulties he faced within the royal family — most notably in interviews, his Netflix series, and his memoir, Spare. While the book covered many aspects of his life, one of the most sensitive topics was his portrayal of Queen Camilla. He accused her of using the media to rehabilitate her image, a claim that reportedly struck a deep nerve with Charles.
Royal experts say this may have been the final straw. “Camilla has always remained silent on these attacks, but Charles was deeply hurt,” a royal source told Fox News. Since then, efforts at reconciliation have been minimal at best. According to friends of the prince, Harry’s calls often go unanswered. When aides bring Charles the phone with Harry on the line, the King reportedly waves them away.
It’s also been reported that neither King Charles nor Prince William feels safe sharing personal or confidential information with Harry anymore. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People Magazine that the breakdown in communication is largely about trust: “There’s a belief that anything shared might end up public.”
No way back?
Despite the fractured relationships, Harry has occasionally signaled that he’s still open to making peace. In a recent interview, he said, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight. Life is precious.” But behind the scenes, experts say Charles remains cautious — and William, for his part, is thought to have shut the door entirely.
“It’s unlikely we’ll see them in the same room again anytime soon,” one commentator said. “Some believe the next family reunion won’t happen until the King’s funeral.”
While the royal family remains tight-lipped about any personal disputes, the cracks are hard to ignore. And as Harry continues his legal fight for police protection in the UK — which he claims is essential for visiting with his children — it seems that even the possibility of casual family visits remains complicated.
Only time will tell whether a father and son, now on opposite sides of the world and so many issues, can ever find their way back to a shared conversation — or if the only dialogue left is what’s captured by a lip reader in a carriage.